Monash University
Software systems increasingly support communities of users who interact through the platform, elevating the importance and impact of research on integrity and privacy. How do we ensure that such communities remain safe and their data remains private?
To tackle these challenges, Facebook is undertaking research and development on a Web Enabled Simulation (WES) system called WW. WW is a multiagent simulation that trains agents (bots) using automated learning and optimization to simulate the social behavior of a range of good and bad actors. The simulation aims to automatically find and fix integrity and privacy issues.
In this call, we are particularly interested in research work that tackles these challenges and that could also lead to collaboration with our WW project. More details, including open research problems and challenges we hope to tackle in partnership with the scientific community, can be found in the keynote paper on the WES agenda and WW project.
To foster further innovation in this area, and to deepen our collaboration with academia, Facebook is pleased to invite faculty to respond to this call for research proposals pertaining to the topics below. We anticipate awarding 3–8 awards, each in the $50,000 range. Payment will be made to the proposer’s host university as an unrestricted gift.
Monash University
University of Technology Sydney
Michigan State University
Polytechnique Montréal
Central Queensland University
North Carolina State University
University of Michigan
University of Utah
Applications Are Currently CLosed
Notifications will be sent by email to selected applicants by August 2020.
Topics of interest for this RFP include (but are not limited to):
Most of the RFP awards are an unrestricted gift. Because of its nature, salary/headcount could be included as part of the budget presented for the RFP. Since the award/gift is paid to the university, they will be able to allocate the funds to that winning project and have the freedom to use as they need. All Facebook teams are different and have different expectations concerning deliverables, timing, etc. Long story short – yes, money for salary/headcount can be included. It’s up to the reviewing team to determine if the percentage spend is reasonable and how that relates to the decision if the project is a winner or not.
We are flexible, but ideally proposals submitted are single-spaced, Times New Roman, 12 pt font.
Research awards are given year-round and funding years/duration can vary by proposal.
Yes, award funds can be used to cover a researcher’s salary.
Budgets can vary by institution and geography, but overall research funds ideally cover the following: graduate or post-graduate students’ employment/tuition; other research costs (e.g., equipment, laptops, incidental costs); travel associated with the research (conferences, workshops, summits, etc.); overhead for research gifts is limited to 5%
One person will need to be the primary PI (i.e., the submitter that will receive all email notifications); however, you’ll be given the opportunity to list collaborators/co-PIs in the submission form. Please note in your budget breakdown how the funds should be dispersed amongst PIs.
Facebook’s decisions will be final in all matters relating to Facebook RFP solicitations, including whether or not to grant an award and the interpretation of Facebook RFP Terms and Conditions. By submitting a proposal, applicants affirm that they have read and agree to these Terms and Conditions.